Card game method and device

ABSTRACT

A game method includes defining at least two rule sets that have differing conditions defining a winning hand. A player places an ante wager and receives a partial hand of playing cards. A player elects a rule set by placing a wager. The player receives at least one additional playing card and forms a player hand using one or more of the playing cards dealt. The elected rule set is used to determine whether the player hand is a winning hand. A reward is issued to players with a winning hand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to card game methods and devices. Morespecifically, the present invention is a card game method in which aplayer is dealt a partial hand of playing cards and, by his wager,elects from a plurality of game rule sets for resolution of his hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a number of card games known in the art. One of the best knownand most popular games is poker. The game of video draw poker beginswith a player placing a wager and receiving a hand of five cards. Theplayer is allowed to discard and replace zero or more cards from theplayer's hand. The final hand, including the replacement cards, iscompared to a paytable to determine whether the player will receive areward or lose his wager. The game of stud poker is similar to that ofdraw poker, except that a player must rely on his dealt cards, withoutdiscarding or replacing any cards, in resolving his wager.

There are also games such as the game shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,041.In this game, commonly referred to as CASINO WAR®, a dealer compares theranking of a single player card to the ranking of a single dealer card.If the player has a higher ranking card, the player is rewarded; if thedealer has a higher ranking card, the dealer collects the player'swager.

Another game known in the art is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774. Thisgame, commonly referred to as THREE CARD POKER®, includes each playermaking a wager at the beginning of the game to determine whether theplayer's hand will be resolved against the dealer hand, a paytable, orboth.

The drawback to all of these games is that the player is confined to asingle set of rules for resolution of his hand. Even in THREE CARDPOKER®, where the player has a choice to resolve his hand against adealer hand, a paytable, or both, the player must select the form ofresolution before any cards are dealt. This has two effects. First, aplayer may tire of playing the same game repeatedly. Players oftenrequire new and exciting events through the play of a game to maintaintheir attention.

Second, a player with a poor hand under the rules is faced with aninevitable loss. Many players would have some interest in playing a gamein which the player can choose rules during a game to suit the player'shand.

Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for a methodand device for playing a card game in which the player elects from aplurality of rules sets for resolution of a player hand during play ofthe hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a card game method and a device for conductinga card game method. It is noted that the card game method of the presentinvention could be conducted in a live format such as at a gaming table,could be conducted using a gaming machine, or could be conducted as acombination thereof. The present card game is conducted for at least oneplayer using playing cards or electronic representations thereof.

At least two rule sets are defined. The conditions for a winning hand ineach rule set differs from the other rule sets. Optionally, theconditions for a winning hand in two or more of the rule sets aremutually exclusive.

For example, in one optional embodiment, a lows rule set could be used.In such an optional embodiment, the object would be to obtain a sum ofthe values of the playing cards in the player hand less than apredetermined maximum. Additionally or alternatively, in an optionalembodiment, a highs rule set could be used. The object of a high rulesset would be to obtain a sum of the values of the playing cards in theplayer hand greater than a predetermined minimum. In yet anotheroptional embodiment, a poker rules set could be used. In such anoptional embodiment, the object would be to obtain a player hand with apoker ranking higher than a predetermined minimum.

The player makes an ante wager and a partial hand of playing cards isdealt to the player. After receiving the partial hand, the player electsa rule set by placing a wager corresponding to the elected rule set. Inan optional embodiment, the player is allowed to select only one ruleset. In a further optional embodiment, the player may also have theoption to fold. In such an optional embodiment, the ante wager iscollected from the player electing to fold and play is terminated as tothat player.

After electing a rule set, at least one additional playing card is dealtto the player. The player forms a player hand using one or more of theplaying cards dealt to the player. For example, in one optionalembodiment, the partial hand consists of four playing cards, that is,four playing cards are dealt prior to the election of a rule set, andtwo additional playing cards are dealt after the election of a rule set.In forming a player hand in such an optional embodiment, the playerselects five of the six cards dealt.

A determination is made whether the player hand is a winning player handusing the elected rule set. Thus, for example, if the player elects thelows rule set, the player hand is evaluated using the lows rule set. Theplayer is rewarded if the player hand is a winning player hand accordingto the elected rule set.

As noted, the method of the present invention could be conducted in alive table format or in a gaming machine format. In an optionalembodiment in which the method is implemented in a gaming machine, adevice for conducting the method could include a data processorcommunicating with a display, wager receiver, reward device, and inputdevice. The data processor also communicates with a data structure. Thedata structure stores representations of playing cards and at least tworule sets. The rule sets stored at the data structure include conditionsfor a winning player hand which differ among one another. In an optionalembodiment, the conditions for a winning hand in at least two of therule sets are mutually exclusive. Again, the rule sets could include alows rule set, a highs rule set, and/or a poker rules set.

The data structure also stores instructions executable by the dataprocessor to conduct a game method. According to an optional embodiment,the method includes receiving an ante wager at the wager receiver. Inresponse to receipt of an ante wager, the data processor deals a partialhand of playing cards to the player and displays the partial hand at thedisplay.

After receiving the partial hand, the player elects a rule set byplacing a wager corresponding to the elected rule set at the wagerreceiver and inputting an election at the input device. Optionally, thedata processor accepts the election of only one rule set. In analternate optional embodiment, the player may be allowed to fold, inwhich case the player's ante wager is retained by the device and play bythe player is terminated. In response to the election of a rule set, thedata processor deals at least one additional playing card to the playerand displays the playing cards dealt to the player at the display. Aplayer hand is formed using one or more of the playing cards dealt tothe player.

The data processor determines whether the player hand is a winningplayer hand according to the elected rule set. A reward is issued at thereward device if the player hand is a winning player hand according tothe elected rule set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a layout used in a table game embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method according to an alternate embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. Turning first to FIG. 1, the presentinvention includes a method for conducting a card game for a player. Byusing the term “card” it is noted that physical playing cards,electronic representations of playing cards, tiles, dominoes, symbols,or any other form of symbol or indicia are included. Thus, the examplesand descriptions below using the term “playing card” or “card” should beread as exemplary rather than limiting.

The method of the present invention could be conducted in any manner andin any format. For example, it is contemplated that the game could beoperated in a table format using physical playing cards or electronicrepresentations of playing cards, at a gaming machine, at a generalpurpose computer, over a computer network such as the Internet, or inany other manner or fashion.

At least two rule sets are defined 10. These rule sets may include anynumber of similarities or differences among them. However, theconditions for a winning player hand in at least two of the rule setsdiffer. By stating that the conditions for a winning player hand in eachrule set differs, any difference among the conditions would besufficient.

In an optional embodiment, it is contemplated that the conditions for awinning hand in at least two of the rule sets are sufficiently differentto be mutually exclusive. That is, in such an optional embodiment, theconditions for winning a player hand in a first rule set would bemutually exclusive from the winning conditions in a second rule set. Asan example, the winning conditions for one rule set may be directed topoker hands of high ranking and the winning conditions for one rule setmay be directed to poker hands of low ranking.

It is contemplated that any number of rules sets could be defined 10.Moreover, it is contemplated that the rules sets may use any measure forordering player hands including the values of the playing cards of theplayer hand, the rank of the playing cards of the player hand, and/orthe rank of the combination of playing cards of the player hand. It isalso contemplated that any one game may include rules sets using avariety of measures to order player hands.

As an example, in one optional embodiment, a lows rule set may bedefined 10. In such an optional embodiment, the player's objective is toobtain a sum of the playing cards of the player's hand that is less thana predetermined maximum. Specifically, such a rules set includesassigning values to playing cards. In an optional embodiment, facecards, that is, Kings, Queens, and Jacks, may be assigned a value ofzero, Aces may be assigned a value of one, and the remaining playingcards may have a value equal to their face value. Thus, in such a lowsrules set, the hand of K

J

J

6⋄ 2

would have a sum of “8” because 0+0+0+6+2=8. In determining whether ahand is a winning hand under such an example lows rules set, any maximumcould be used. However, in an optional embodiment, hands with sums of 9or less are winning hands. Thus, in the example, the player would have awinning hand under such a lows rule set.

In another optional embodiment, a highs rule set may be defined 10. Insuch an optional embodiment, the player's objective is to obtain a sumof the playing cards of the player's hand that is greater than apredetermined minimum. In such a rules set, the playing cards would alsobe assigned values, but the values could be the same as, or differentfrom, those used in the lows rule set. For example, in an optionalembodiment, face cards may be assigned a value of ten, Aces may beassigned a value of eleven, and the remaining playing cards may have avalue equal to their face value. Thus, under such a highs rule set, thesame example hand of K

J

J

6⋄ 2

would have a sum of “38” because 10+10+10+6+2=38. In determining whethera hand is a winning hand under such a highs rule set, any minimum couldbe used. However, in an optional embodiment, hands with sums of 46 orgreater are winning hands. Thus, in the example, the player would have alosing hand under such a highs rule set.

In yet another optional embodiment, a poker rule set may be defined 10.In such an optional embodiment, the player's objective would be toobtain a player hand with a poker ranking higher than a predeterminedminimum ranking. In an optional embodiment, conventional poker rankingscould be used. Thus, under such a poker rule set, the same example handof K

J

J

6⋄ 2

would have a poker ranking of “a pair of Jacks.” While any minimum couldbe used in determining whether a hand is a winning hand, in an optionalembodiment, a hand of “two pair” or higher is a winning hand. Thus, inthe example, a player would have a losing hand under such a poker rulesset.

Returning to the method of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, eachplayer places 12 an ante wager and is dealt 14 a partial hand of playingcards. Any number of playing cards could be dealt in the partial hand.The player inspects the partial hand and, based on the partial hand andthe rule sets, elects 16 a rule set by placing a wager corresponding tothe elected rule set. That is, a player decides which rule set theplayer wishes to be used in determining whether the player hand is awinning hand and places a wager on the elected rule set. As will bediscussed in greater detail below, in the layout of FIG. 2, a wager areacorresponds to each rule set. A player of such an optional embodimentelects 16 a rule set by placing a wager in the corresponding wager area.

While it is possible in an optional embodiment for a player to electmore than one rule set, it is likewise contemplated that a player may berestricted to electing only one rule set. Thus, a player of such anoptional embodiment would elect one rule set to the exclusion of theother possible rule sets.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is also possible that a player may have theoption to fold 18 in an optional embodiment. For example, in oneoptional embodiment, a player may choose not to elect any rule set andsurrender his ante wager. In such an optional embodiment, when a playeropts to fold 18, the player's ante wager is collected 20 and play isterminated with respect to the player.

Returning to FIG. 1, at least one additional playing card is dealt 22 tothe player after a rule set is elected. As noted above, the quantity ofcards dealt to the player before and after the rule set is elected mayvary. However, in the optional embodiment of FIG. 1, it is contemplatedthat at least one card is dealt 14 before the player elects 16 a ruleset and at least one card is dealt 22 after the player elects a ruleset.

The player forms 24 a player hand using one or more of the playing cardsdealt to the player. That is, the player forms 24 a player hand from theplaying cards dealt to the player before and after the rule set iselected. It is noted that the player hand could include any number ofplaying cards and could include all, or some, of the cards dealt to theplayer. For example, in an optional embodiment, discussed in greaterdetail below, four playing cards are dealt 14 to a partial hand beforethe player elects 16 a rule set and two playing cards are dealt 22 afterelection. The player of such an optional embodiment then uses five ofthe six cards dealt to form 24 a five-card player hand.

The elected rule set is applied to the player hand and a determination26 is made whether the player hand is a winning player under the electedrule set. That is, whether the player hand is a winning player handunder one or more non-elected rule set is irrelevant. Rather, only theelected rule set is used.

If the player hand is a winning hand, the player is rewarded 28. Thereward may be a fixed reward, but in an optional embodiment, the rewardis determined 30 according to a schedule of rewards. In such an optionalembodiment, the schedule of rewards may vary depending upon the player'sholding. For example, in an optional embodiment where a player elects alows rule set and in which a player is dealt six playing cards, asdescribed above, the following example schedule of rewards may be used:TABLE 1 Holding Payout Six card sum of 0 100:1  Five card sum of 0 10:1 Five card sum of 1 6:1 Five card sum of 2 5:1 Five card sum of 3 3:1Five card sum of 4-6 2:1 Five card sum of 7-9 1:1Thus, in such an optional embodiment, if the player elects a lows ruleset and has a sum less than “9,” the player is paid on his or her antewager, optionally at even money or 1:1, and on his or her wager placedwhen electing the lows rule set according to the schedule. Conversely,if the player elects a lows rule set and has a sum greater than “9,” theplayer loses his or her ante wager and the wager placed when electingthe lows rule set.

Similarly, in an optional embodiment where a player elects a highs ruleset and in which a player is dealt six playing cards, as describedabove, the following example schedule of rewards may be used: TABLE 2Five Card Holding Payout Sum of 54 200:1  Sum of 53 11:1  Sum of 52 6:1Sum of 50-51 2:1 Sum of 46-49 1:1Thus, in such an optional embodiment, if the player elects a highs ruleset and has a sum greater than “46,” the player is paid on his or herante wager, optionally at even money or 1:1, and on his or her wagerplaced when electing the highs rule set according to the schedule.Conversely, if the player elects a highs rule set and has a sum lessthan “46,” the player loses his or her ante wager and the wager placedwhen electing the highs rule set.

In an optional embodiment where a player elects a poker rule set and inwhich a player is dealt six playing cards, as described above, thefollowing example schedule of rewards may be used: TABLE 3 Five CardHolding Payout Royal Flush 200:1  Straight Flush 50:1  Four of a Kind10:1  Full House 6:1 Flush 5:1 Straight 4:1 Three of a Kind 3:1 Two Pair2:1Thus, in such an optional embodiment, if the player elects a poker ruleset and has a five-card poker holding higher than “two pair,” the playeris paid on his or her ante wager, optionally at even money or 1:1, andon his or her wager placed when electing the poker rule set according tothe schedule. Conversely, if the player elects a poker rule set and hasa five-card poker holding lower than “two pair,” the player loses his orher ante wager and the wager placed when electing the poker rule set.

Turning to FIG. 2, an example layout 32 used for a table form of thepresent invention is shown. The layout 32 includes a plurality of playerareas 34 and a dealer area 36. Each player area 34 includes an antewager area 38 and a plurality, in this case three, wager areas 40, 42,44. The optional embodiment to which this example layout is directedincludes a highs rule set, a lows rule set, and a poker rules set.Consequently, a separate wager area is provided for each rule set.Specifically, a highs wager area 40 corresponds to a highs rule set, alows wager area 42 corresponds to a lows rule set, and a poker wagerarea 44 corresponds to a poker rules set.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3, a game conducted according to anoptional embodiment of the present invention could begin with a playerplacing 12 an ante wager at the ante wager area 38. The dealer deals 14a four playing card partial hand to the player, for example, Q

7⋄ 4⋄ 4

. As noted above, the player could, in this optional embodiment, opt tofold 18, in which case the player would lose 20 his ante wager and endhis play. However, the player inspects his partial hand and, since thispartial hand is likely to fail under either the highs rule set or lowsrule set but may succeed under the poker rule set, the player elects 16,in this example, the poker rule set by placing a wager at the pokerwager area 44.

Continuing with the example, the player is dealt 22 two additionalcards, for example, 10

4

, such that the six playing cards dealt to the player are: Q

10

7⋄ 4⋄ 4

4

. Since the poker rule set is defined 10 as the best five playing cardsdealt to the player, the player forms 24 a player hand of Q

10

4⋄ 4

4

which has a poker rank of “three of a kind.” Assuming that the exampleschedule given above is used 30, the player holding of “three of a kind”is determined 26 to be a winning hand that is rewarded 28 at a rate of3:1. Thus, in this optional embodiment, the player is rewarded 28 ateven money on his or her ante wager and rewarded 28 at 3:1 on his or herwager placed when electing 16 the poker rule set.

Turning to FIG. 4, the present method could also be conducted in adevice embodiment. It is noted that the device of the present inventioncould take many different forms, including a gaming machine, a kiosk orterminal, a general purpose computer such as a personal computer, acomputer operating over a computer network such as the Internet, or anyother form of machine.

A device according to the present invention includes a data processor50. The data processor 50 can take any form. The data processor 50communicates with a display 52. Again, the display 52 can take manydifferent forms, including a cathode-ray tube or CRT monitor, a plasmascreen, a liquid crystal display or LCD, or any other form of display.The data processor 50 also communicates with an input device 54. Theinput device 54 can take many different forms. For example, the inputdevice 54 could be a computer mouse, controller, keyboard or keypad,panel button (such as those used on gaming machines), touchscreen, orthe like.

The device also includes a wager receiver 56 and a reward device 58 incommunication with the data processor 50 for receiving wagers andissuing rewards, respectively. These wager handling elements could takemany different forms including a ticket reader, ticket printer, coinhandler, bill handler, credit register for tracking stored game credits,card reader, credit/debit account link, or any other hardware orsoftware that can receive, store, or debit a wager and issue or credit areward.

A data structure 50 communicates with the data processor 60. The datastructure 60 can take many forms including optical storage, magneticstorage, electronic or electrical storage, random access memory or RAM,read-only memory or ROM, flash memory, or any other form of datastorage. Moreover, it is contemplated that the data structure 60 couldbe remote from the data processor 50 and that physically different orphysically separate data structures could be used in combination tostore data.

The data structure 60 stores representations of playing cards,definitions 10 of at least two rule sets having different conditions fordetermining a winning player hand, and instructions executable by thedata processor 50 to conduct a method according to the presentinvention.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the player places 12 an antewager at the wager receiver 56. In response to the receipt of the wager,the data processor 50 deals 14 a partial hand of playing cards to theplayer and displays the partial hand at the display 52. As known in theart, many different methods are known for randomly generating a set ofoutcomes such as a partial hand of playing cards.

After receiving the partial hand, the player elects 16 a rule set usingthe wager receiver 56 and the input device 54. That is, the playerplaces an additional wager through the wager receiver 56 and inputs theelection through the input device 54. Optionally, the player may belimited to election of only one rule set. The additional wager could beplaced through the same variety of mechanisms used to place the antewager, including allocating game credits or inserting coins, bills,printed tickets, or the like. With regard to the rule sets themselves,any rule sets could be used, including, for example, the lows rule set,highs rule set, and/or poker rule set discussed above. In an optionalembodiment, the player may also have the option to fold 18 at thispoint, which would result in the loss 20 of the ante wager andtermination of play. In such an optional embodiment, the option to fold18 may be inputted through the input device 54.

In response to the election of a rule set, the data processor 50 deals22 at least one additional playing card to the player and displays theplaying cards dealt to the player at the display 52. A player hand isformed 24 using at least one of the playing cards dealt to the player.That is, all or some of the playing cards may be included in the playerhand. In an optional embodiment, fewer than all, such as five of six, ofthe playing cards dealt to the player are used in the player hand. Insuch an optional embodiment, the player may select the playing cards tobe used in the player hand or the data processor 50 may select the bestplayer hand for the player.

Again, the elected rule set is used by the data processor 50 todetermine 26 whether the player hand is a winning player hand. If theplayer hand is a winning player hand, the player is rewarded 28 at thereward device 58. Again, the reward device could issue some fungiblemedia of exchange, such as coins, currency, vouchers, tickets, or thelike, add to the credits stored at the machine, or credit a financialaccount. Optionally, the reward is determined 30 by a schedule ofrewards such as those shown in Tables 1-3.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed it is to be understood that the present invention is subjectto many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit andscope of the claims presented herein.

1. A card game method for at least one player using playing cards,comprising: defining at least two rule sets wherein conditions for awinning player hand in each rule set differs from at least one otherrule set; said player making an ante wager; dealing a partial hand ofplaying cards to said player; after receiving said partial hand, saidplayer electing a rule set by placing a wager corresponding to theelected rule set; after electing a rule set, dealing at least oneadditional playing card to said player; forming a player hand using oneor more of the playing cards dealt to said player; determining whetherthe player hand is a winning player hand according to said elected ruleset; and rewarding said player if said player hand is a winning playerhand.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, providing an optionfor said player to fold after receiving said partial hand, such that ifsaid player opts to fold, said player's ante wager is collected and playis terminated as to said player.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein saidplayer may elect only one rule set.
 4. The method of claim 1 whereinconditions for a winning hand in at least two of said rule sets aremutually exclusive.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said rulesets is a lows rule set comprising: dealing four playing cards to saidpartial hand and two additional playing cards after said lows rule setis elected; selecting five of the six playing cards dealt to said playerto form a player hand; summing the values of the selected five playingcards, wherein face cards have a value of zero, aces have a value ofone, and numbered cards have a value equal to their face value; anddesignating a player hand to be a winning player hand if said sum isless than a predetermined maximum.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein oneof said rule sets is a highs rule set comprising: dealing four playingcards to said partial hand and two additional playing cards after saidhighs rule set is elected; selecting five of the six playing cards dealtto said player to form a player hand; summing the values of the selectedfive playing cards, wherein face cards have a value of ten, aces have avalue of eleven, and numbered cards have a value equal to their facevalue; and designating a player hand to be a winning player hand if saidsum is greater than a predetermined minimum.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein one of said rule sets is a poker rule set comprising: dealingfour playing cards to said partial hand and two additional playing cardsafter said poker rule set is elected; selecting five of the six playingcards dealt to said player to form a player hand; and designating aplayer hand to be a winning player hand if the poker ranking of saidplayer hand is greater than a predetermined minimum.
 8. A card gamemethod for at least one player using playing cards, comprising: definingat least two rule sets wherein conditions for a winning player hand ineach rule set differs from the other rule sets and conditions for awinning hand in at least two of said rule sets are mutually exclusive;said player making an ante wager; dealing a partial hand of playingcards to said player; after receiving said partial hand, said playerelecting a rule set by placing a wager corresponding to the elected ruleset; after electing a rule set, dealing at least one additional playingcard to said player; forming a player hand using one or more of theplaying cards dealt to said player; determining whether the player handis a winning player hand according to, said elected rule set; andrewarding said player if said player hand is a winning player hand. 9.The method of claim 8 wherein said player may elect only one rule set.10. The method of claim 8 further comprising, providing an option forsaid player to fold after receiving said partial hand, such that if saidplayer opts to fold, said player's ante wager is collected and play isterminated as to said player.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein one ofsaid rule sets is a lows rule set comprising: dealing four playing cardsto said partial hand and two additional playing cards after said lowsrule set is elected; selecting five of the six playing cards dealt tosaid player to form a player hand; summing the values of the selectedfive playing cards, wherein face cards have a value of zero, aces have avalue of one, and numbered cards have a value equal to their face value;designating a player hand to be a winning player hand if said sum isless than a predetermined maximum; and determining said reward based ona schedule of rewards varying by sum.
 12. The method of claim 8 whereinone of said rule sets is a highs rule set comprising: dealing fourplaying cards to said partial hand and two additional playing cardsafter said highs rule set is elected; selecting five of the six playingcards dealt to said player to form a player hand; summing the values ofthe selected five playing cards, wherein face cards have a value of ten,aces have a value of eleven, and numbered cards have a value equal totheir face value; designating a player hand to be a winning player handif said sum is greater than a predetermined minimum; and determiningsaid reward based on a schedule of rewards varying by sum.
 13. Themethod of claim 8 wherein one of said rule sets is a poker rule setcomprising: dealing four playing cards to said partial hand and twoadditional playing cards after said poker rule set is elected; selectingfive of the six playing cards dealt to said player to form a playerhand; designating a player hand to be a winning player hand if the pokerranking of said player hand is greater than a predetermined minimum; anddetermining said reward based on a schedule of rewards varying by pokerranking.
 14. A card game method for at least one player using playingcards, comprising: defining at least a first rule set and a second ruleset wherein conditions for a winning player hand under said first ruleset is different from, and mutually exclusive of, conditions for awinning player hand under said second rule set; said player making anante wager; dealing a partial hand of playing cards to said player;after receiving said partial hand, said player either (a) folding or (b)electing only one rule set by placing one of a first wager correspondingto said first rule set or a second wager corresponding to said secondrule set; if said player folded, collecting said player's ante wager andterminating play as to the player; if said player elected a rule set,dealing at least one additional playing card to said player; forming aplayer hand using one or more of the playing cards dealt to said player;if said player placed a first wager, determining whether the player handis a winning player hand according to said first rule set; if saidplayer placed a second wager, determining whether the player hand is awinning player hand according to said second rule set; and rewardingsaid player if said player hand is a winning player hand.
 15. The methodof claim 14 wherein one of said rule sets is a lows rule set comprising:dealing four playing cards to said partial hand and two additionalplaying cards after said lows rule set is elected; selecting five of thesix playing cards dealt to said player to form a player hand; summingthe values of the selected five playing cards, wherein face cards have avalue of zero, aces have a value of one, and numbered cards have a valueequal to their face value; designating a player hand to be a winningplayer hand if said sum is less than a predetermined maximum; anddetermining said reward based on a schedule of rewards varying by sum.16. The method of claim 14 wherein one of said rule sets is a highs ruleset comprising: dealing four playing cards to said partial hand and twoadditional playing cards after said highs rule set is elected; selectingfive of the six playing cards dealt to said player to form a playerhand; summing the values of the selected five playing cards, whereinface cards have a value of ten, aces have a value of eleven, andnumbered cards have a value equal to their face value; designating aplayer hand to be a winning player hand if said sum is greater than apredetermined minimum; and determining said reward based on a scheduleof rewards varying by sum.
 17. The method of claim 14 further comprisinga third rule set that may be elected by placing a third wagercorresponding to said third rule set in place of said first wager orsaid second wager, comprising: dealing four playing cards to saidpartial hand and two additional playing cards after said third rule setis elected; selecting five of the six playing cards dealt to said playerto form a player hand; designating a player hand to be a winning playerhand if the poker ranking of said player hand is greater than apredetermined minimum; and determining said reward based on a scheduleof rewards varying by poker ranking.
 18. A device for conducting awagering game for a player using representations of playing cards,comprising: a data processor; a display communicating with said dataprocessor; an input device communicating with said data processor; awager receiver communicating with said data processor; a reward devicecommunicating with said data processor; and a data structurecommunicating with said data processor, said data processor storing saidrepresentations of playing cards, at least two rule sets whereinconditions for a winning player hand in each rule set differs from theother rule sets and conditions for a winning hand in at least two ofsaid rule sets are mutually exclusive, and instructions executable bysaid data processor to conduct a method comprising: receiving an antewager at said wager receiver; in response to receipt of an ante wager,dealing a partial hand of playing cards to said player; displaying saidpartial hand to said player at said display; after receiving saidpartial hand, said player electing a rule set by placing a wagercorresponding to the elected rule set at said wager receiver andinputting an election at said input device; in response to the electionof a rule set, dealing at least one additional playing card to saidplayer; displaying the playing cards dealt to said player at saiddisplay; forming a player hand using one or more of the playing cardsdealt to said player; determining whether the player hand is a winningplayer hand according to said elected rule set; and rewarding saidplayer if said player hand is a winning player hand at said rewarddevice.
 19. The device of claim 18 wherein said data processor allowselection at said input device of only one rule set per game.
 20. Thedevice of claim 18 wherein said method further comprises, providing anoption for said player to fold after receiving said partial hand, suchthat if said player inputs at said input device an instruction to fold,said player's ante wager is collected and play is terminated as to saidplayer.
 21. The device of claim 18 wherein one of said rule sets storedat said data structure is a lows rule set comprising: said dataprocessor dealing four playing cards to said partial hand and twoadditional playing cards after said lows rule set is elected throughsaid input device; selecting through said input device five of the sixplaying cards dealt to said player to form a player hand; said dataprocessor summing the values of the selected five playing cards, whereinface cards have a value of zero, aces have a value of one, and numberedcards have a value equal to their face value; said data processordesignating a player hand to be a winning player hand if said sum isless than a predetermined maximum; and said data processor determiningsaid reward based on a schedule of rewards varying by sum.
 22. Thedevice of claim 18 wherein one of said rule sets stored at said datastructure is a highs rule set comprising: said data processor dealingfour playing cards to said partial hand and two additional playing cardsafter said highs rule set is elected through said input device;selecting through said input device five of the six playing cards dealtto said player to form a player hand; said data processor summing thevalues of the selected five playing cards, wherein face cards have avalue of ten, aces have a value of eleven, and numbered cards have avalue equal to their face value; said data processor designating aplayer hand to be a winning player hand if said sum is greater than apredetermined minimum; and said data processor determining said rewardbased on a schedule of rewards varying by sum.
 23. The device of claim18 wherein one of said rule sets stored at said data structure is apoker rule set comprising: said processor dealing four playing cards tosaid partial hand and two additional playing cards after said poker ruleset is elected; selecting through said input device five of the sixplaying cards dealt to said player to form a player hand; said processordesignating a player hand to be a winning player hand if the pokerranking of said player hand is greater than a predetermined minimum; andsaid data processor determining said reward based on a schedule ofrewards varying by poker ranking.